Missouri National Guard Armory building in Midtown

[Suburban Lou]

Does anybody know anything about the gothic styled building next to the Famous Barr Warehouse alongside highway 40? It has always caught my eye but it seems that I am never able to find anything on it.

[Suburban Lou]

I think this is the building (The one with the brown vaulted roof.)

http://terraserver.microsoft.com/image.aspx?T=4&S=9&Z=15&X=7404&Y=42794&W=1

[guest]

The Armory

[urbanstlouis]

Yes, it is the former National Guard Armory you are thinking about. Every once in a while I hear someone "wish" something for this building... I think the last time it was some type of museum? From what I can gather on the Internet, it had been used for concert venues, once housed indoor tennis courts, and now is home to indoor softball fields.

[Suburban Lou]

Thank you guys!



This building is definitely one of my top ten favorite buildings in the city.



hmm that gives me an ideal for another thread.

[ecoabsence]

That building was indeed the National Guard Armory for many years. The last that I heard, someone was contemplating re-opening it as an indoor sporting facility. I recall that it was used as an indoor soccer facility for a few years in the mid-1990's.



The building still provides basement parking for Famous Barr employees, so there's a chance you may be able to get a peek at some of it.

[JivecitySTL]

I remember that place was often used for underground rave parties.

[Imos!!!]

Arthur Ashe and Jimmy Connors used to play there.

[Suburban Lou]

I finally went and checked the building out close up. The entrance into the basement was left wide open and I almost went in there. I really hope something is done with it soon it might make a good concert venue or some kind fitness center.



ecoabsence maybe you should do a tour of this building for your website.



Here are some pics.

[BGeldy]

Besides 90% of St. Louisans not knowing how to get there, why isn't this fantastic building used or rehabbed? Or is it and I just don't know about it? Last I heard (and this was over ten years ago) it was an indoor softball field.



If anyone has pictures of the inside, I would love to see them!

[TheWayoftheArch]

Used to have an indoor softball/baseball field, batting cages, driving range...



Gateway indoor sportsplex or something like that.

[markofucity]

I believe the Gratefull Dead played there in the 70's .....

could be wrong though ... info from deadhead freinds is inherently suspect

[TheWayoftheArch]

True, brother, true...

[markofucity]

well I was never a true deadhead but I did live in Amsterdam for awhile so I suppose my info is suspect as well ...



anyway - wasn't the armory the site of a civil war battle as well?

[BGeldy]

You my be thinking of the land just east of the old St. Louis Arsenal, at the foot of what is now, go figure, Arsenal Street.